Kazuki Yamada takes on new title as Music Director of the CBSO

KD SCHMID is delighted to announce that Kazuki Yamada has assumed the new title of Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), reflecting his ever-deepening relationship with the orchestra and increasing involvement in programming and creative decision-making.

Yamada leads 22 concerts in Birmingham across the 2024-25 season, from performances of landmark classical works to appearances with the CBSO Youth Orchestra, at the CBSO’s annual Schools’ Concerts, and at Hockley Social Club, as well as working with Shireland CBSO Academy, the UK’s first school run in collaboration with an orchestra which opened in September 2023.

Yamada's season highlights include an exploration of Ninth Symphonies by Mahler, Bruckner, Dvořák, and Beethoven. It starts with Beethoven’s ‘Choral’ Symphony, featuring the CBSO Chorus and soloists Lucy Crowe, Jennifer Johnston, Nicky Spence, and Jonathan Lemalu (19 September). Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9, marking his 200th birthday, follows (12 December). Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony headlines two concerts, one with music by Villa Lobos and Mendelssohn (14 February) and the other exploring its history with Black Voices (15 February). Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 concludes the series alongside Takemitsu’s Requiem (10 April).

Yamada also joins the CBSO Youth Orchestra for Mendelssohn’s ‘Reformation’ Symphony (3 November), and other highlights feature Spanish music with guitarist Miloš (30 October), various violin concertos with soloists like Isabelle Faust (5 February) and Suyeon Kim (14 February), Haydn’s "The Creation" with the CBSO Chorus (26 February), Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1 with Kian Soltani (1 May), and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 with Hisako Kawamura (18 June). The season concludes with Elgar’s Cello Concerto performed by Sheku Kanneh-Mason (19 June). Yamada also leads the orchestra on tours to Europe and Japan during the 2024-25 Season.

Kazuki Yamada, Music Director, CBSO, says: “I am very excited to announce the contents of our new season, which will be very fulfilling. As Music Director, I have renewed my determination to participate more actively in the CBSO's various activities than ever before.

You can read the full press release here.